Five Simple Steps to Clean Out Your Fridge

by Sr. Editor on August 4, 2011

Stocked Refrigerator

Creative Commons License photo credit: magnetbox

Chances are, you probably have a few expired items and some leftover takeout in your refrigerator. Your fridge is the hub of your kitchen, and when there is an unpleasant smell coming from it, it can make your entire kitchen suffer. Cleaning your refrigerator doesn’t have to take all day, as long as you follow these five simple steps.

Take everything out
Beginning with your refrigerator, take everything out. Check the expiration date on each item. If you have expired items, throw them away. If there are items in there that don’t look the way they’re supposed to, toss those, too. Keep all other good items on your kitchen counter while you go through the next few steps.

Remove all shelves and drawers
Take out all of the removable drawers and shelves in your fridge. Be careful with glass items. Set these items close to your sink. Using a sponge and all-purpose cleanser, wipe out the entire inside of the fridge from top to bottom and side to side. Make sure to get all of the crevices, including the butter bins, egg holders, etc. Once you’re finished wiping out the inside of the fridge, check to make sure all of the soap is gone. Now, go back to the shelves and drawers. Carefully wash these items in your sink with soap, warm water and a sponge. Place the shelves and drawers back in the fridge. Next, place all of the food items back into the fridge.

Clean out the freezer
Repeat the above steps for your freezer. Remove all of the items and scrub the inside of the freezer thoroughly. Place all of the items back into your freezer. Check the owner’s manual for your refrigerator to learn how to thoroughly clean your freezer, as it may vary from refrigerator to refrigerator.

Scrub the outside
Use a cleaner that is appropriate for your refrigerator – some cleaners do not work as well on certain refrigerators, such as stainless steel. Wipe down the entire exterior of the refrigerator – get the top, front, sides and the bottom of the doors. Be sure to get in the grooves where the door meets the refrigerator frame.

Maintenance
You don’t necessarily have to do this kind of deep cleaning often on your fridge as long as you keep the cleanliness maintained. To aid in the odor fighting, open a box of baking soda and keep it in your refrigerator. Replace the baking soda as directed on the box. Be sure to routinely check the expiration dates of items in your fridge, and if you spill something in the fridge, clean it up right away.

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How to Hang a Hammock

by Sr. Editor on June 28, 2011

Hammock

There is nothing better than relieving some stress by having a glass of sweet tea and swinging on a hammock in the middle of a hot summer day in Atlanta. Whether the hammock is in a location overlooking the lake or in your quaint backyard among your shade trees, a nice, relaxing nap in your hammock is the best. If you’re thinking about taking out your hammock, here are some tips on how to hang it.

Choose a location
Scope out your backyard. Find a location where the trees provide enough support and shade. If you plan on hanging the hammock between two trees, be sure that there is enough distance – but not too much – for the hammock to hang. The average size of a hammock is 15 feet. The healthy trees should be a type of hardwood tree (which includes oak, maple or beech), and it must be at least one foot in diameter.

Determine the height from the ground
Depending on the type of hammock you have, your hammock can be hung anywhere from four feet off the ground to eight feet off the ground. If your hammock has the wooden spreader bars, hang the hammock approximately four to five feet off the ground. Hammocks that come without spreader bars are designed to hang freely and dip down slightly in the center. These types of hammocks can be hung approximately six to eight feet above ground. Just remember that you must be able to climb into the hammock to actually enjoy it.

Hang it
To hang your hammock, you’ll need removable tree straps, which include a loop of fabric at one end and a metal ring at the other. Determine how far off the ground you want your hammock to be and wrap the strap around the tree trunk. Then, pass the ring through the loop and center the strap ring with the ring on the end of the hammock. Connect the ring on the strap with the ring on the hammock with an S-hook.

Get in it
Just as important as hanging your hammock is how you get in it. Your friends may get a good laugh from watching you get in the hammock in a not-so-graceful manner, but you know that the last thing you want to happen is to flip out of the hammock right as you get in it. After you set up your hammock, stand with your back to it. Hold on to the hammock to steady it and sit down on it as if you were sitting down on a chair. Stretch your legs and then flip them both onto the hammock. Lay back and begin relaxing.

Good combinations
To go with your relaxation, we recommend a fresh-brewed glass of sweet tea. Don’t forget the pillow to go on your hammock for the added comfort. Lastly, remember the insect repellent. You can’t relax if you’re worried about the mosquitoes.

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8 Ways to Be Happier

by Sr. Editor on April 25, 2011


Photo Credit: (iStockPhoto/jhorrocks)

We all want to be happy, but with daily stress and life, it’s easy to lose focus of what’s important and what makes us smile. While no one is happy all the time – mood shifts are completely normal – if you’ve been a rut lately and want to remember what joy feels like, try the simple ideas below to boost your mood.

Get some sunshine. Just sitting in the sunlight for five minutes each day on your porch is all it takes to absorb enough Vitamin D to prevent diseases such as osteoporosis, rickets and fibromyalgia, as well as prostate, breast, ovarian and colon cancer. About 40 percent of the population is Vitamin D deficient, so sitting in the sun may be all you need to feel better.

Live in the moment. In a social media-focused world, we’re all too focused on updating others about what we’re doing rather than just enjoying what we’re doing. If you’re not into social media but are still worrying about what others think or what your next move is, take a minute to focus on the here and now.

Tackle a project. Whether you’ve been meaning to clean out the basement, order those wedding photos or create a scrapbook, you’ll be happier when you’ve accomplished what you’ve been putting off. Plus, decluttering, organizing and completing one project often leads to doing more of the same, so you’ll have multiple bouts of happiness – plus a sense of pride in your work.

Take a walk. When you walk for 30 minutes each day, not only will you be able to sort out personal issues in the moments of quiet, you can also lower your bad cholesterol, raise your good cholesterol, lower your blood pressure, reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, manage your weight and stay fit. Plus, walking improves your mood and won’t likely lead to injuries, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Adopt a cat or dog. According to the CDC, pet ownership can decrease your blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides and feelings of loneliness, as well as increase opportunities for exercise and socialization. If you can’t have a dog or cat in your apartment or your schedule won’t allow for owning pets, volunteer at your local Humane Society or pound to reap the benefits of pet ownership without the expense.

On that note, volunteer. Few activities put your own life in perspective like helping out someone less fortunate. You’ll improve your community, develop new skills, improve talents, feel a sense of achievement, experience something new, network and boost your career opportunities and possibly discover new interests and hobbies.

Reign in your spending. Often, to make ourselves feel better, we spend money on something we don’t need, only to feel even worse later because of buyer’s remorse. Take control of your finances, and resolve to spend less than you earn. Put some money aside for a rainy day – or even better, for a sunny day.

Treat yourself to something cheap and fun. While you’re spending less, it’s okay to purchase the occasional magazine, cupcake, candy, nail polish, ice cream cone or fresh flowers. Better yet, surprise someone else to one of those items to brighten both your day and theirs.

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How to Divide Stuff Amicably

by Sr. Editor on March 29, 2011


Photo Credit: (iStockPhoto/mediaphotos)

Breaking up is hard to do. It’s harder when you live together, and one of the worst parts is trying to split all of your belongings as one or both of you moves out. Keep the process as mess-free as possible by being sensible and straightforward and getting it over with as soon as possible. The sooner you split your stuff, the sooner each of you can be settled in your new home.

• Take what you moved in with. All items you brought into the relationship should be yours to take out. If there are things your ex has grown attached to and wants to keep, try trading.
• Separate what is mine, yours and ours. The TV may have been for the both of you, but if you paid for it completely, you’ve got a good argument for taking it. Once you’ve agreed on the three lists, estimate the value of the “our” pieces.
• Be practical. If you have two coffee tables, pick the one you want more. Don’t insist on taking every TV or both couches.
• Separately, rank the “our” items in order of personal importance to you. Bring the lists together, and decide which items overlap. For things you both want, decide on a method for splitting them up. Leave it to chance with a coin flip, or divide based on monetary value. You could use a bidding or bargaining process, or you can pick items back and forth until all are spoken for. Whatever method you choose, stick to it until everything is sorted.
• Try to be fair and even. Especially when it comes to essential items, such as pots, pans and dishes, try to leave each person with some supplies. That way, one of you isn’t left to buy whole new sets.
• Be as civil as possible. On the uncomfortable scale, dividing stuff post-break up tops the charts. The process won’t be fun, but if you can approach it in a practical manner, it will get done faster and easier. Once everything is doled out, move out separately, without the other around. Also be sure to stash or throw away any personal mementos of the relationship, as their presence in your new (or renewed) place will make it more difficult to move on.

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The Only Kitchen Gadgets You Need

by Sr. Editor on January 27, 2011


Photo Credit: (iStockPhoto/photog2112)

Some kitchens are an unorganized mess of gadgets, utensils and home appliances, but yours doesn’t have to be. You don’t need a juicer unless you’re pouring yourself big glasses of fresh orange juice every day; otherwise you can just squeeze the juice out of a citrus fruit yourself. A garlic press is unnecessary if you have a microplane, which doubles as a zester and grater for hard cheeses.

You only need 16 gadgets to make virtually every meal you run across in any cookbook. Simplify your life in 2011 by clearing out the clutter in your kitchen and keeping only the utensils and gadgets you absolutely need, listed and explained below.

Spatula
A silicone-coated spatula can scramble eggs in a nonstick pan and lift baked goods, vegetables, fish and meat off a baking sheet without scratching the surface.

Tongs
Go for silicone-tipped tongs, which can turn shrimp or meatballs individually in a frying pan, lift pasta out of boiling water and flip waffles placed directly on an oven rack.

Large spoon
A large stainless steel spoon can double as a ladle for dipping soup out of a pot or help you dive into a thick casserole for serving.

Strainer
Pick out a wire mesh colander with fine grates for it to double as a sifter and strain gravies and sauces, as well as drain the water off vegetables and pasta.

Grater
Purchase a box grater with varying hole sizes for soft- to semi-soft cheeses and hard vegetables and fruits such as carrots, zucchini and apples.

Microplane
Though the box grater works well for soft to semi-soft cheeses, a microplane really grinds into hard cheeses such as parmesan and also works wonders on garlic and citrus fruit zest, the latter of which can be difficult to remove from a traditional box grater.

Chef’s knife
Buying a chef’s knife won’t be cheap, but it’ll make your life easier. Purchase a high-quality santoku (chef’s) knife that’s at least seven inches and has a full tang (meaning the blade doesn’t stop at the handle) in stainless forged steel, and make sure it fits and balances nicely in your hand.

Bread knife
Otherwise known as a long serated knife, a bread knife will help saw through bread, carve meats and cut through tomatoes without crushing them.

Masher
If you love mashed potatoes, a potato masher is the easiest tool to crush them without making them gluey (like an electric mixer can if mixed too long). And if you were thinking about mashing potatoes with a fork… just don’t.

Vegetable peeler
A vegetable peeler can easily remove the skin from woody root vegetables such as potatoes, parsnips and carrots or from more tender produce such as cucumbers, apples and zucchini.

Can opener
Though an electric can opener might prevent you from being cut or from germs spreading to the contents of the can, a manual can opener is cheap and is tried and true, since it’s been around since 1772.

Measuring spoons
In baking, it’s important to measure ingredients exactly, particularly leavening agents such as baking soda and baking powder. Make sure to get a tablespoon, teaspoon, half-teaspoon and quarter-teaspoon measurement.

Measuring cup(s)
Dry ingredients are best handled using “scoop and level” measuring cups (separate measuring cups for one cup, ½ cup, 1/3 cup, ¼ cup and 1/8 cup), but the unit of measurement for dry ingredients is the same if you use a liquid measuring cup (a clear one that has all measurements in a range, such as two cups, on it) if you don’t have much space.

Kitchen shears
Purchase a pair of good-quality stainless forged steel kitchen scissors that separates into two parts for thorough washing. You’ll use these for everything from cutting kitchen twine to separating chicken parts to snipping green onions or bacon pieces over a hot pan.

Whisk
Long before there were electric mixers, there were whisks, which whip cream, beats eggs and cake batters and keeps sauces, polenta, grits and gravies from clumping. Note: An electric mixer may be needed in addition to a whisk if you do a lot of baking.

Silicone baking mat
Better than parchment paper (for its thickness, durability and easy cleaning), a silicone baking mat ensures even baking for cookies (no burnt bottoms) and makes clean-up for roasted meats or vegetables a breeze. You can either put it in the dishwasher or wash it by hand in less than a minute.

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Where to Find the Most Unique Eats

by Sr. Editor on December 1, 2010

Each big city has good hot dogs, pizza and burgers, but each place also has cuisine that makes it stand out from the rest. Don’t just take in the sights in New York, Los Angeles and other metros; get to know the city through its varied cuisine, influenced by geography, tradition and its residents. Read on to discover the most unique eats and where to find them in the cities below.

New York
The Big Apple is a melting pot of cultures and cuisines, and every ingredient can be found in its varied boroughs and neighborhoods. For a taste of all that’s New York, down a Dr. Brown’s celery soda, which can be found at most hot dog stands, convenience stores or drug stores; an Asia dog (beef, chicken or veggie), topped with your choice of kimchi, seaweed flakes, aioli, pickled carrot, daikon, jalapeno or Asian sesame slaw; a Sicilian rice ball (ground beef, rice, parmesan and peas, breaded and fried) at Papa Perrone’s; and banana oatmeal and jerk chicken from the Jamaican Dutchy cart.

Los Angeles
Los Angeles is the melting pot of the West Coast, and its cuisine is largely Pan-Asian. Indulge in an IncrediBall, two meatballs with ground Kobe beef topped with bacon, Gruyere, arugula and garlic aioli on a toasted brioche bun at Great Balls on Tires, which also serves amazing Ballywood, Pad Thai, Ball Gogi and Ball Mi options; a pastrami cheeseburger topped with grilled onions at The Place LA; and sweet rice pancakes at Koo’s Sweet Rice Pancake Ho-tteok Cart.

Portland
Portland is all about food trucks, and you’ll see them lined up in downtown Portland on most days of the week. From the food trucks, order gnocchi with sundried tomatoes, olive oil, roasted garlic and pecorino from Built to Grill, and a grilled peanut butter and black cherry jelly sandwich with jalapeno and bacon from PBJs. At Voodoo Doughnuts, you’ll go crazy over the bacon maple bar, an enormous doughnut topped with sweet maple icing and salty strips of bacon.

Austin
Austin prides itself on unique local flavor in its businesses, parks, music venues and cuisine, the latter of which can be found at the food trucks hanging around near the University of Texas. Don’t miss the beef tongue tacos from Not Your Mama’s Food Truck; the beef and lamb kebabs and falafel from Kebabalicious; and white clam pizza, topped with chopped clams, olive oil, garlic and Pecorino Romano, at Home Slice Pizza.

Atlanta
With its lengthy Buford Highway, a multi-ethnic community that stretches more than five miles through the city, and its roots in historic fast food, Atlanta is an interesting mix of new and old. Try the Frosted Orange (a Creamsicle milkshake) and a pimento cheese chili dog from The Varsity, the largest fast food restaurant in the world; ostrich medallions at 10 Degrees South, the only South African restaurant in the country; and bahn mi, a Vietnamese-French sandwich with pickled vegetables, cucumbers, cilantro, jalapenos, pate, mayonnaise and marinated pork on a rice flour baguette, at Quoc Huong.

Boston
Since Boston is a coastal city, local cuisine is mostly focused on fresh seafood, though it’s also known for its baked beans and one special hot dog. Next time you’re in Boston, make sure you try a Speed’s hot dog topped with mustard, barbecue sauce, relish, sweet onions and “special” chili sauce; baked beans at Hungry Mother; fish and chips (made with dry batter) at Court House Seafood; fried clams at Neptune Oyster; and New England clam chowder at James Hook and Co. Lobsters.

New Orleans
America’s Most Interesting City owes parts of its nickname to its distinct cuisine, a delicious blend of Cajun, Creole and French influences. Order the Junk Shot Jambalaya at Louisiana Bistro; the gumbo at Commander’s Palace; crawfish etouffee at K-Paul’s Louisiana Kitchen; beignets and café au lait at Café Du Monde; muffuletta sandwiches, a combination of marinated olive salad, capicola, salami, mortadella and cheese on round Sicilian sesame bread at Central Grocery Co.; and pralines, a brown sugar, cream and pecan confection, from Aunt Sally’s Praline Shop.

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Start Recycling at Your Apartment Complex

by Sr. Editor on November 10, 2010

If you hate taking out the garbage and love helping the environment, start a recycling program in your apartment complex or community. Talk to your neighbors to see if they’re interested, and if they need convincing, remind them that if they recycle, they’ll have to visit the Dumpster less often, and their trash will probably not smell as bad.

First, talk to your apartment manager to see if there’s already been interest in starting recycling in your complex. (If you live in a home instead of an apartment complex, contact your city or county’s curbside recycling service to see if they will include your area.) Find out the steps your manager has already taken, and if he or she is too busy to get anything moving, volunteer to run down as many of the steps as you can. Assure your manager you just want to find out how much it costs and see if there’s any interest, and all decisions will rest in the manager’s hands.

Next, with the go-ahead from your apartment manager, contact the city or county your apartment complex is in to see if it has a recycling program and if they can include your apartment complex in its weekly or biweekly route. Give the director of the city’s recycling program your apartment manager’s name and contact information to follow up about gate access and scheduling.

If your city or county has no recycling program, contact a local waste removal company (preferably the one that already picks up trash in your complex) to see if they can include your complex in their route. To discover who your complex uses, either ask your manager or look at the advertisement on the trash bin in your community. Find out how much it will cost to implement a recycling program; chances are, everyone’s rent will just go up a few dollars if you utilize the same company that picks up trash in the community. For many places, it costs only around $30 per year, and that includes the recycling bin and sorting bags.

Then, get the word out. Ask your apartment manager if you can print out flyers or door hangers to generate interest, and instruct tenants to email you if they’re interested. Sometimes it takes more than one round of advertising to really get the responses coming in. If you live in a home, consider placing an ad in the local newspaper or magazine to let your neighbors know about the new service. Finally, provide your apartment manager with the email addresses and names of everyone who’s excited about making their immediate worlds a little greener.

Though it may take a little work to get your manager and apartment neighbors on board for recycling, once you see the blue bins filled with paper, aluminum and plastic and realize how much you’re helping the environment, it will all be worth it. Your community may end up recycling thousands and thousands of pounds of materials each year, and that’s something to feel good about.

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Worst-For-You Halloween Candy

by Sr. Editor on October 7, 2010


Photo Credit: Wikipedia Commons

Whether you’re a dentist or dietician handing out candy at Halloween, or you just want to offer the neighborhood kids something healthier Oct. 31, keep in mind that all candy isn’t created equal. While almost all of it has sugar and some form of fat, some candy bars and treats are worse than others. Here are the worst-for-you candies to hand out from your home at Halloween and alternate, still-tasty options to pass out instead.

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
The mini peanut butter cups are 50 calories apiece, but the individually wrapped single versions have 130 calories, eight grams of fat and 13 grams of sugar.
Instead: Hand out Peanut M&Ms, which provide a little protein and mostly monounsaturated fat, the good kind of fat.

Hershey’s Milk Chocolate
One tiny Fun-Sized Hershey’s Milk Chocolate bar has 67 calories, and nearly three grams of saturated fat, which is 13 percent of your daily value. Since kids will probably eat more than one, it’s best to steer clear from giving these out at Halloween, since only four equal the amount of fat and calories in a full-sized bar.
Instead: Give children 3 Musketeers Fun-Sized bars instead. The calorie and sugar count is about the same, but the nougat’s volume in the bar means kids aren’t likely to eat as many, while still enjoying the taste of milk chocolate. Or, provide dark chocolate Hershey’s Kisses, which are a great way to control portion sizes.

Twix Cookie Bars
Milk chocolate, caramel and cookies combine in this favorite candy of children for generations. However, its high calorie, saturated fat and trans fat count makes it one of the worst candies to provide to kids.
Instead: Provide miniature sized boxes of Milk Duds, which still provide that chocolate and caramel flavor but without the trans fat. Plus, Milk Duds’ chewy texture might satisfy kids for longer than Twix would.

Milky Way
With one of the highest sugar counts per bar among our candy comparison, Milky Way bars are in a galaxy best left unexplored.
Instead: Introduce children to miniature versions of Milky Way Midnight, which have all the taste of Milky Way, plus an added flavor boost of vanilla nougat and dark chocolate. Milky Way Midnight has slightly less amounts of sugar, fat and calories than its milk chocolate counterpart, and the dark chocolate will satisfy cravings quicker and keep kids from reaching for more.

Snickers
True, a Snickers bar is filling, with its peanut and nougat center, but even each miniature Snickers bar has more than a teaspoon of sugar and very little protein.
Instead: Choose miniature Hershey’s Take 5 bars, which have 55 percent less sugar, 25 percent less calories and 20 percent less fat per serving, while still providing all of the peanut taste and crunch of Snickers.

Skittles
If tasting the rainbow means discovering the exciting world of cavities in your teeth, Skittles is true to its name. Each Fun Size bag of Skittles contains a shocking seven and a half teaspoons of sugar and 80 calories.
Instead: Give little ones packs of Smarties to devour. At 25 calories and one and a half teaspoons of sugar per roll, they really are a smarter choice.

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6 Places to See the Best Fall Leaves

by Sr. Editor on September 27, 2010


Photo Credit: Wikipedia Commons

Author, philosopher and journalist Albert Camus once said, “Autumn is a second spring when every leaf’s a flower.”

Though fall may conjure up images of pumpkins, fireplaces and cooler weather, nothing quite indicates fall is here like the dazzling red, gold, orange and yellow leaves on the trees and underfoot during the autumn months. If you live along the east coast or in the northern portion of the United States, you’re probably within driving distance to gorgeous fall foliage. Discover one or more of the following scenic places this autumn.

Blue Ridge Parkway – North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee
Located just 100 miles northwest of Charlotte, N.C., the Blue Ridge Parkway is a 469-mile scenic parkway that runs from Shenandoah National Park in western Virginia to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee. With more native species of hardwood trees here than any other place in North America, you’re sure to see bright red dogwoods, sourwoods, blackgums, red maples and oaks, yellow poplar and hickories, orange sassafras and green Virginia pines, white pines, hemlocks, spruces and firs. Viewing begins in the first week of October and runs through the first of November. Try to find a spot to view the trees from up high.

Pikes Peak Ranger District and Cottonwood Pass – Colorado
With Pike National Forest on the west side of Colorado Springs, there are plenty of places to see striking natural foliage outside the city. The aspen is the tree of choice for visitors to this area, and though the season is short (about two weeks in mid-September to early October), the sight of aspens in summer green, brilliant yellow and autumn gold is worth it. Just west of Buena Vista, head down Cottonwood Pass Road to see the two 14,000-foot Collegiate Peaks rising on each side – and one of Colorado’s most aspen-laden valleys. To see more trees in Pikes Peak Ranger District, go down Gold Camp Road starting in Colorado Springs and ride it to Victor, and then take Colorado 67 through Cripple Creek north to Divide.

Camden, Maine
Fall in the New England states means gorgeous forest views and, of course, apple cider. In a rare natural occurrence, fall leaves turn beautiful colors sitting right next to the ocean, beaches and flatlands. See autumn leaves in pale yellow, bright yellow, orange, red and soft green on oak, maple, tupelo and blackgum trees, and then as they form equally striking soft piles as they drop to the ground. Camden’s foliage-viewing season begins the last week of September and lasts through mid-October, and the best foliage views are on mountain, lake and riverside trails.

Lost Maples State Natural Area – Texas
Though the maple trees in this state park aren’t technically lost, they are isolated and uncommon. The large patch of Uvalde Bigtooth Maples is a popular draw, and the best places to view them are on the East Trail during the beginning of the season for green maple, yellow maple and red oak, and the West trail during the latter part of the season for gold lacy oak, red maple and orange maple. The viewing season begins in mid-October and lasts through mid-November.

Glacier National Park – Montana
Maples, larch and aspen begin to turn gold in early October in Glacier National Park. The maples, which can be found along hiking trails, become brilliant yellow, orange and red, while the larch and aspen become bright yellow and gold. Set beside evergreens, the scene makes for a gorgeous backdrop against the clear Montana sky. Look for these fall colors from late September to mid-October, depending on the elevation of the trail.

Columbia River Gorge – Oregon
Drive down I-84, hike a variety of trails or kayak down the Columbia River to witness this gorge in the Cascade Mountains, which forms the border between Oregon and Washington. This space is loaded with fir, twisted pine, big-leaf maple, cottonwood, Oregon ash and vine maple trees, which show their dazzling colors from mid-September through mid-October. Don’t miss the waterfalls, including the 620-foot Multnomah Falls, along the way.

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How to Organize Your Laundry Room

by Sr. Editor on September 21, 2010


Photo Credit: (iStockPhoto/AdShooter)

For some, laundry rooms are the epitome of clean (after all, you do wash clothes in there), and for others, that room is the one you shut off from all eyes and let fester into a wad of clutter and disarray. For the latter home owner or apartment dweller, rest assured that you can not only make sense of the space where you do your laundry, you can organize, personalize and love it.

To sort out your laundry room woes, first go through your laundry room clutter and remove anything that doesn’t have to do with the laundry room. If you have tools sitting on top of the dryer, move them to a workshop or utility closet. If you don’t have a utility closet or drawer, designate one in a room other than the laundry room, and move relevant items to it. Take kids’ toys back to their rooms, and hang or fold clean clothes. Or, just drop off the items in the room or area they’re supposed to go in, and deal with them later.

Move all of the laundry-related items – detergent, spot cleaner, bleach, fabric softener, fabric softener balls, dryer sheets, hampers, baskets, clothespins, irons and hangers – to one designated spot nearby. Thoroughly clean all surfaces, such as the surface area of the washer and dryer and any shelves in the room.

Next, decide what kind of organizational materials you can use in your space. If you have a washer and dryer set behind a pair of louvered doors, your only option is to build upward, or install shelves above the units, but you can place attractive baskets on them. If your washer and dryer are both front-loading, you can paint a large piece of plywood in shiny white and create a makeshift counter space over your appliances or a utility sink, where you can fold clothes and house plastic storage drawers. Fill these drawers, shelves or cabinets with the laundry supplies you moved out earlier, organizing them by function and placing them in arms reach of the washer and dryer.

Those who have the floor space can add a multi-bin laundry sorter, which will provide a place to sort lights, darks and delicates, or each family member’s clothing, whatever you prefer. If you don’t have room in your laundry room for these hampers, place them in bathrooms or bedrooms. Affix a short clothes pole or shower curtain rod from one part of the wall to the other, so you can hang clothes to dry, and don’t forget to use the back of the door for a laundry room supplies organizer.

With a little time and effort, you will be on your way to a clean, organized laundry room in no time, and you will save countless hours of stress doing laundry.

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Find Storage Solutions for Small Apartments

by Sr. Editor on July 8, 2010


Photo Credit: (iStockPhoto/YinYang)

In small spaces, clutter can seem twice as overwhelming. Small appliances, piles of clothes and rows of toiletries may appear endless, when they’re really quite manageable with a few space-saving storage solutions. Whether you live in a loft, studio, one-bedroom apartment or simply a small rental home, you can regain your sanity with a few simple organizational pieces designed to maximize your minimal space.

In the pantry, hang an over-the-door pocketed shoe organizer for spices, bags of grains, soup cans and more. Depending on the model you purchase, these sturdy compartments can hold the weight of up to 36 pairs of shoes, so don’t be shy about loading them full of stuff. You can also use this solution in your linen closet to store extra shampoo, soap and bathroom supplies, though you should keep medicines out of reach of children and heed temperature storage precautions.

Utilize empty wall space for storage. In your bathroom, hang an attractive cabinet or shelves for items you frequently reach for, such as toothpaste, deodorant and contact solution. In the bedroom, fill shelves with attractive, solid baskets to hold bathing suits, underwear, scarves, jewelry and other small accessories. In the kitchen, shelves can store plates, glasses and small appliances. In the pantry, install large hooks (making sure they’re attached to wall studs) for your pots, pans and utensils, and in the bedroom closet, use the hooks for hanging up your bicycle or extra coats. Store DVDs and CDs on shelves in the living room.

Purchase multi-use furniture, such as storage ottomans, platform beds with drawers or a secretary desk/dresser. A storage ottoman with tray tables stores blankets or toys inside, plus you can prop your feet on it or use the tray tables to convert it into a small dining table. Since platform beds don’t require box springs, find one with four roomy drawers underneath. Uncover the top portion of a secretary desk/dresser to work on school projects, and use the spacious drawers for clothes.

Create a closet with storage drawers and boxes, and use a curtain to conceal them. Find an empty corner or wall space, and fill it from the floor to (almost) as high as you can reach with storage boxes or drawers in all sizes. Then install a curtain track or rod from your ceiling (making sure to install it to the rafters), in front of the storage boxes. Then place a curtain along the track or rod, and your clutter is instantly managed and out of sight.

Use racks to maximize cabinet space. Vertical racks can store oddly-shaped items, such as lids with knobs, that don’t stack well, or help keep plastic storage container lids within reach. Horizontal racks can add an additional shelf for items that don’t stack to the top of the shelf, such as plates, cups and cleaning supplies. Inexpensive custom cupboard shelf and drawer kits create storage for canned goods, cleaners, food wraps and jars.

Consider under-cabinet storage options. Store stemware and mugs on an under-cabinet stemware rack, and get paper towels off the counter but still within reach with a paper towel rack installed underneath cupboards. Storage units under cabinets also come in larger sizes and as a pull-down option, so you can store countless supplies out of sight but still make them easily accessible.

In addition to the suggestions above, keep clutter at a minimum by putting things away whenever you are no longer using them. Hang up clothes and put shoes away immediately, and think hard about purchasing knick-knacks or additional decorative items for your home before you first get rid of a few things first. Hold a yard sale if you need to, which may fund your storage solutions, and remember to maintain clutter daily.

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How to Correctly Pack Moving Boxes

by Sr. Editor on June 18, 2010


Photo Credit: (iStockPhoto/lisegagne)

When you’re stressed about moving into your first or next apartment, you might be tempted to toss all of your belongings in the nearest box, tape it up and lug it to your car. However, improperly packing moving boxes may cause damages to your stuff, or worse, yourself, if all of the contents drop on your foot.

Avoid having to repack or purchase new knick-knacks by packing boxes correctly the first time, using the tips below.

Purchase sturdy moving boxes, or find thick boxes that were built to hold heavy materials, such as liquor boxes. You’ll find that liquor boxes, while strong, are often small, as it’s best to pack heavy objects in a manageable box.

Pack up one room at a time, and label all of your boxes with which room they go in. Write the word “Fragile” on boxes that contain breakable goods. Organize while you move, putting grouped items in bags first, and then put those bags into the boxes.

Reinforce the bottom of all of your boxes with packing tape. Packing tape is specifically designed to stick to the box and provides an additional layer of strength. Make sure you take this step, since it will likely prevent heavy items from falling through the bottom of the box.

Place a layer of crushed paper in the bottom for cushioning. Of course, this only applies to boxes in which you’ll be packing both heavy and light items.

Wrap items individually, placing crushed paper inside hollowed-out spaces in vases and bowls. Fill in the crevices of boxes with fabric items, such as socks or dish towels, heavy, crumpled paper, bubble wrap or packing peanuts to prevent items from shifting during the move.

Store the heaviest items in small boxes so they’re easier to carry. Never load any box more than 50 pounds, or 30 pounds if you’re smaller, so you can control what you’re lifting.

Pack the next-heaviest items on the bottom of boxes and lighter items on top. This will prevent the lighter items from being crushed under the weight of the heavier items.

Make sure the items you’ll need first are loaded in the boxes last. This includes toiletries, kids’ toys, pet supplies and a change of clothes. If you’re using a moving truck, make sure these items are the last to go in the truck; if you’re moving in your car, make sure they’re easy to reach.

Don’t pack up the common sense. Consider the size, weight and shape of your objects when you’re packing them, and when in doubt, don’t let certain items leave your side. Place boxes with valuable items and personal belongings on the front seat of your own car when you move.

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Pull Up a Blanket at the Best Places to Picnic

by Sr. Editor on May 14, 2010


Photo Credit: (iStockPhoto/iofoto)

The glorious two months before summer begins provides the perfect weather and foliage for one of America’s favorite pastimes, picnicking. Celebrate on your own on June 18, International Picnic Day, when picnickers around the world pack baskets, spread out blankets and eat lunch on lawns, in parks and at events.

The origin of the word “picnic” probably comes from the French word “piquer,” which means “to pick or peck,” combined with the word “nique,” meaning trifle, to convey the idea of multiple guests bringing different foods. Picnics likely began during medieval times from social banquets held outdoors by the wealthy, usually to celebrate a successful hunt. Today, “picnic” designates anyone eating outdoors.

Though International Picnic Day is not recognized by Congress, you can still honor the unofficial holiday in your backyard or at a neighborhood park. If you’re lucky enough to be near any of the following 12 cities, check out the best picnic places each city has to offer.

Washington, D.C.
Georgetown Waterfront Park in D.C.’s Georgetown neighborhood provides a gorgeously landscaped, lush setting with waterside views of Theodore Roosevelt Island and the Kennedy Center. Spread out a blanket on the lawns surrounded by flowers and greenery between Washington Harbor and Key Bridge.

San Francisco
When the weather is warm and sunny in San Francisco, pack a picnic, bring the dog and head over to Crissy Field, where you’ll discover picturesque views of the Golden Gate Bridge, which is practically overhead. Afterwards, walk, run or bike through the park trails.

Atlanta
Located about two miles northeast of downtown Atlanta, Piedmont Park offers glorious views of dogwood-lined paths and the Atlanta skyline reflected in Lake Clara Meer. Picnic on The Meadow, Oak Hill or the Front Lawn, or grab a drink at Park Tavern, a restaurant that overlooks the park. Afterwards, tour the adjacent Atlanta Botanical Garden.

Miami
Unwind with a bottle of wine and a picnic at Crandon Beach, a gorgeous two-mile beach with calm water in Key Biscayne. Though the destination is popular with locals for its promenade, surfing waters and family amusement center, Crandon Beach is much more peaceful than South Beach, with the same perfect aquamarine water and Miami skyline views.

New York City
You’ll feel like you’re in a painting when you picnic at the oasis-like triangle by the pond on the southeast corner of Central Park, which provides the perfect perch for people-watching. As you sit on the gently sloped, grass- and moss-covered banks, you’ll see couples and families paddling the lake, college students tossing the Frisbee and soaking up rays and exercise enthusiasts playing baseball, jogging and walking.

Chicago
At Prairie Garden in Grant Park, you won’t lack for spectacular scenery while you nosh on the sandwiches from your picnic basket. The wildflower-covered oval plots here cover three acres in beauty and fragrance, and the nearby Lake Michigan and its patrons provide the perfect Chicago conversation piece over lunch.

St. Louis
At Tower Grove Park, walk the grounds and admire the restored greenhouse and gazebos first, then find a shady spot to enjoy your picnic lunch. Formerly a Victorian walking park, park patrons can still revel in the fancy Victorian pavilions and sculptures commissioned by Henry Shaw in the 1800s, plus more than 8,000 trees and shrubs imported from around the world.

Austin
Just 30 miles west of Austin is the 232-acre Hamilton Preserve, which includes Hamilton Pool, a spectacular swimming hole that’s a great place to picnic, hike and swim. The sparkling, clear pool and grotto were formed when the dome of an underground river collapsed due to massive erosion. A 45-foot waterfall splashes into the swimming hole surrounded by layers of rock, creating a truly breathtaking oasis in the middle of Texas.

San Diego
San Diego is home to Balboa Park, the nation’s largest urban cultural park, located adjacent to the San Diego Zoo. Throw a blanket down throughout the park or enjoy some of the designated playground and picnic areas at Pepper Grove Playground or the children’s play area at Thorn and Sixth Avenue.

Seattle
Kerry Park in the Queen Anne neighborhood offers postcard-worthy views of the Space Needle, the downtown skyline, Elliott Bay and, on a clear day, Mt. Rainier and the Olympic Mountains. Picnic and then watch airplanes as they fly up from Puget Sound, turn over Elliott Bay and land at the Seattle-Tacoma airport.

Denver
About 30 miles west of Denver is Golden Gate Canyon State Park, a park that has several picnic spots next to the road and lots of short trails that can be linked together to form a longer hike. However, the ideal picnic spot is at the Panorama Point Scenic Overlook, where visitors can see 100 miles of the Continental Divide.

Salt Lake City
Truly appreciate the foods that comprise your picnic at Wheeler Farm, where you can tour the historic 19th century home, milk a cow for 50 cents, ride on tractor-drawn wagons, shop at the country store and of course, picnic. Try to plan your picnic around one of Wheeler Farm’s varying special events held throughout the year.

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How to Host a Rooftop Deck Party

by Sr. Editor on April 28, 2010

You just discovered that your new apartment building has an accessible rooftop, just in time for the summer. You may live in an urban jungle, but that should not prevent you from enjoying the finest outdoor garden party. Surround yourself in a shady green oasis, and break out the nice table linens; you can host a rooftop deck or garden party that will make your yard-mowing suburban friends wish they had rented an apartment in the city.

Rooftop Party
Image: Jawcey (Flickr)

Get permission from the landlord.

First, you need to find out if you are allowed to host parties on the roof of your apartment building. There may be some rules about how many people can access the roof, what the roof can be used for or reserving the roof during busy times of year. While you’re getting permission from your landlord, see if your apartment building neighbors want to help put together a big deck party. It would be a great way to get to know them and all their friends.

Make sure you have enough furniture for entertaining.

If your rooftop deck is not already equipped with patio furniture or lounge chairs, it’s time to ask your neighbors to get some tables and seating together. If every outdoor-loving, sociable tenant contributes at least one piece of furniture, you should have enough space for people to sit. Maybe the landlord will let you leave the furniture on the rooftop for future events. It’s best to keep it simple, so stick with inexpensive plastic furniture or folding chairs. If you plan on hosting a fancy affair, you can always dress up the patio furniture with tablecloths (or white sheets) and chair covers with ribbon.

Check for electrical outlets and a water connection.

If you want to play music or need to have access to water for your outdoor rooftop bar, it is important to make sure that you have the essentials ahead of time. Electrical outlets are not a given on a rooftop, and neither is a water supply. Look for this stuff ahead of time so you can make a plan for running extension cords from nearby apartments or stocking up on canned or bottled drinks with ice-filled coolers.

Prepare for the weather.

The weeks leading up to this fabulous rooftop party have been filled with warm, sunny days. However, be prepared for Murphy’s Law. Rain is always a possibility, and so is unbearable, sweltering heat (you are on a rooftop, after all). It’s a good idea to have a waterproof tent or canopy set up in addition to a few strong electric fans. The temperature on the top of a roof tends to be more extreme either way. Hot, stagnant days of summer are amplified on a tar-filled roof. Contrarily, rainy wind does not have building walls to buffer the blow, so make sure that the gazebo tent is secure and does not blow off the rooftop.

Provide trash cans and recycling bins.

Not providing adequate and proper waste management is a common mistake among amateur party hosts. Be sure that people do not have to ask you, “Where should I dump this beer bottle?” Also, find out what the smoking rules are beforehand. Chances are strong that smoking will be prohibited if you are on the roof of a public apartment building. Be sure to let guests know, and post signs to reinforce this rule.

Rooftop deck parties are the perfect venue for urban apartment dwellers to enjoy the outdoors. By adding outdoorsy details such as large potted plants and flowers, your guests will have the best of both worlds –a rooftop garden party amidst an awesome view of the city’s lit skyscape.

April Lentini writes for Apartment Guide in San Jose.

Posted via web from Apartment Living

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5 Popular Places to Celebrate Cinco de Mayo in Austin

by Sr. Editor on April 28, 2010

Austin is known as the “Tex-Mex capital” of the United States, so if you happen to live there, you are in an ideal location to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. This year, Cinco de Mayo falls on a Wednesday. “Hump day” is the ideal day of the week for an after-hour cocktail. Here are just a few places in Austin that will be toasting Mexican culture on or around May 5 with drink specials, tasty food and other Mexican-themed goodies.

Cinco de Mayo
Image: Thetruthabout (flickr)

La Condesa
400 W 2nd St
Austin, TX 78701

Make sure you make a reservation on May 5. This hip, modern Mexican restaurant is popular on any night of the week, but Cinco de Mayo is especially busy. Conveniently located downtown, La Condesa offers a modern, eclectic atmosphere with contemporary Mexican dishes inspired by the hip, bohemian Condesa neighborhood of Mexico City. This is a good place to go if you are in the mood for posh dinner on Cinco de Mayo.

El Chile Café Y Cantina
1809 Manor Rd
Austin, TX 78722

Get there early to get a seat on the patio. El Chile Café Y Cantina serves up Tex-Mex food with rich, decadent sauces. Try the Oaxacan red mole that Critics rave about on El Chile’s roasted pork enchiladas. The smokey salsa is so good, they sell it by the jar. Happy hour is from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. You can get half price appetizers and $1 off all drinks.

El Taquito
1713 E Riverside Dr
Austin, TX 78741

No alcohol is served here, but that may not matter if you are in the mood for a good greasy spoon place to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. If that is the case, head down to El Taquito for some rather authentic greasy Mexican food. Beware, though, that this place caters to those who like the real deal – the kind of food you might find on the streets of Mexico City. There is no orange cheese here, and the tacos are made from corn tortillas – not flour or wheat. Ask for a jarisco drink or have a Mexican coke.

Fonda San Miguel
2330 W North Loop Blvd
Austin, TX 78756

On the classy end of Mexican restaurants in Austin, perhaps Fonda San Miguel takes the cake. The heavy doors and elaborate paintings on the wall will make you feel like you’ve been invited to a wealthy drug lord’s estate for dinner. Fonda San Miguel is a great place to impress a date for a Cinco de Mayo dinner. The hacienda style building is surrounded by great landscaping, mood lighting in the trees and you are greeted by valets as you pull up. The menu and drink selection are equally impressive. Make sure you make reservations.

Curra’s Grill
614 E Oltorf St
Austin, TX 78704

Curra’s Grill is a relaxed environment to grab some really good food and reasonably priced drinks. This place is very popular among locals, but it also has gained respect and notoriety in several restaurant reviews. It was voted “Best Interior Mexican Food” by the Austin Chronicle and “One of the Best Mexican Restaurants in Texas” by the Texas Monthly. Their hot sauce alone was voted “Best Red Sauce” in the 1998 Austin Hot Sauce Contest. Get there early to get one of the coveted patio seats.

April Lentini writes for Apartment Guide in Austin

Posted via web from Apartment Living

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